The body is amazing in its capacity to heal and stay slim with the right food and a minimum of the right exercise.
There is no one diet that fits all. But if you have failed many times then that is actually a good thing because then you can rule out what did not work. Some of the diets you have tried will have certain parts that did work to some degree which can serve to put you in the right direction.

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Tuesday, 18 November 2014

MY EXPERIENCE WITH JUICE FASTING

I’m on the other side of a seven-day juice fast and I’m alive. Better than alive. Inspired to make a permanent lifestyle change by eating healthier and in awe of my capacity to stick with something.

WHAT IS JUICING?

Juicing, or juice fasting, is just what it sounds like: A period of time — whether seven days or 60 days — of drinking only juice that is extracted from fruits and vegetables.

The fast is designed to give your body a break from the continual process of breaking down the food we eat and instead giving it the nutrients it needs through fresh juice. In return, your body is freed up to do more important things like give you more energy, heal you from the outside and give you more mental clarity.

WHY I STARTED JUICING

I was inspired to begin my juice fast after watching the documentary, “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead.” I’d attempted to do a juice fast last year with my husband, but gave up about three days in because I didn’t like the psychological affects of not eating. After three days, we gave up and made our way to the closest sushi place.

But this time I was motivated after watching the physical and mental changes experienced by the documentary’s subject, Joe Cross, as they followed him along his 60-day journey. I laughed, I cried, I clapped for Joe. I was ready for my own journey.

THE MENTAL CHALLENGE OF JUICING

I don’t think I was quite ready for what a mental challenge sticking with the juice fast would present. Now on the other side of the juice fast, I can assure you that 90 percent of the struggle is purely mental.

I’m supposed to be eating right now.

It can’t be healthy to just be drinking juice.

What if I’m slowly killing myself by not eating? I’m going to starve and not wake up tomorrow.

These swirling thoughts were constant the first two days. Nights were the hardest. Watching Scandal just wasn’t the same without a bowl of Cousin Willie’s white cheddar popcorn. I was so mentally preoccupied with not eating that I didn’t have much room in my mind to think of anything else. I was grumpy, darn it.

Then day three came. The mental clarity and surprising energy everyone was talking about sent the skeptic in me running. It may sound strange, but I felt like I had more space in my mind to think. I felt more alert and didn’t feel the desire to curl up for an afternoon nap. I felt happier, less anxious and enthusiastic. I felt good.

Physically, I was reaping benefits from juicing, too. My skin began to clear, indicating what I’ve been eating is the cause of my breakouts. I started losing inches in my tummy area and my thighs slimmed. By the end, I dropped a dress size and my jeans were much baggier.

Even bigger, I noticed certain things about myself that I wouldn’t have had I not started juicing. Juicing showed me how my desire to eat many times had little to do with hunger, but with my mood. At one point during the fast, I was frustrated by something and instantly looked toward the bowl where a bag of tortilla chips used to be. Had they been there and I wasn’t juicing, I would’ve grabbed a couple handfuls to attempt to make myself feel better. Knowing this emotional eating habit exists, I’m empowered to be mindful of my eating.

TIPS FOR YOUR VERY OWN JUICE FAST

On the other side of the juice fast, I can confidently say that I’d do it all over again — and that’s saying a lot. And when I do it again, I’ll be sure keep in mind these tips to successfully complete the juice fast:

Stay mentally and physically active. Don’t stop living. Juicing isn’t the end of the world, you’re giving your body a much-needed break. Keep up with your hobbies and exercise — even if the first few days require you to take it a bit more slowly. Carry on.

Don’t dwell on the discomfort. You could eat if you want to, but you’ve made the choice to fast. Knowing this, keep the discomfort at bay by focusing on the why of this fast — being a better version of yourself.

About Me

Hello,
I have always had a great deal of difficulty with my weight, For a time, I was spending nearly 2 hours running daily to keep down my weight, performing full body exercises and thousands of crunches (wherever watching TV) just to maintain a healthy weight. Eventually, the excessive activity caused me to injure myself and then I was unable to run. The fat piled on slowly at first then quickly.
Probably, what hurt more than the injury was the comments people said about me. Day after day someone would say something derogatory about my weight - as if making me feel worse could possibly make them feel better!
This eventually got to me. It made me look for other ways to lose fat without relying on hours of cardio training. Today, I find it much easier to maintain a healthy weight without putting myself at great risk of injury and without spending hours exercising. I know there are many people out there who struggle with weight issues and by sharing what has helped me may also help you on your exciting journey to a new slimmer you. I know what it feels like to be at the end of all the teasing and pranks so look forward to sharing any helpful suggestions with you.